Sergio Romero hopes that David de Gea will not get the move to Real Madrid that he craves, despite that outcome meaning he might lose his place in the Manchester United team.

The Argentina goalkeeper has started United's first three games of the season with De Gea forced to sit in the stands amid manager Louis van Gaal's admission that his No 1's focus has been affected by the impasse between the clubs.

While De Gea might not now be in the right frame of mind he has been United's stand-out performer in the last two seasons and would be a near certainty to play in goal should Real fail to sign him before the transfer window closes on September 1.

David de Gea (middle row, fourth left) watches Manchester United against Club Bruges from the stands

Sergio Romero has taken De Gea's place in goal for United, with the Spaniard's 'focus' affected by Real Madrid

Romero insisted De Gea remains a 'great team-mate, a great professional, a great person' and said his presence at Old Trafford could only be good for the United squad.

'The truth is that I have no idea [if he will leave], but for me I hope that De Gea stays here because he's a good team-mate who always works hard and that is best for the group,' said Romero.

'It is a difficult situation for him but when one is a great professional like he is and when one has a good head like his you keep training to get better day by day because you never know, he could play this weekend.'

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De Gea, 24, has less than one year left on his current contract with United, and wants to move home to Spain and join the Bernabeu giants. United are holding out for a fee of around £35million but Real are insistent that they should pay far less due to his contract situation.

Romero joined United on a free transfer from Sampdoria in July. The 28-year-old was struggling to beak back into the first team at the Serie A club, and he compared Dea Gea's situation with his own in Italy.

'It happened to me last year in Sampdoria. I was not playing but I was working as if I was going to play.

De Gea wants to join the Spanish giants but United are unwilling to sell, leaving him in limbo